" never seen desert," said Atmos eagerly, "for no deserts sky Come, little Princess, go at once " Giving Rusty farewell embrace and thanking him again for all his kindness, Ozma ran airman, who had already started toward the South

"Good-bye ! " called Rusty, turned to wave to him from little hill "Be careful not to tread on her toes ! "

The country through which they were passing was barren and wild and not at all interesting to Ozma, but the airman stopped and exclaimed over every tree and boulder, collecting leaves, flowers, sticks and small stones, that his air pockets were soon bulging

"I'm really quite glad punctured," he remarked happily "Otherwise missed all this "

Ozma nodded, bit impatiently, for she was thinking of all she had missed during her strange two days air, and wondering what had become of Betsy Bobbin

"Maybe she's been home all the time," sighed the little Princess, "and won't she be astonished when I tell her where Oh, dear, wish hurry put any more stones in your pocket you'll never to fly," she cautioned gently, "and don't walk little faster, we'll never reach the Emerald City at all "

"That's so," puffed the airman, and straightening up he reluctantly dropped handful of pebbles "But walking is so monotonous air, drift, float, swim or fly and so we never grow tired "

"It very nice," agreed Ozma politely, "but don't walk little faster ? We're going storm," she added, glancing up sky, full of dark clouds "Oh, Atmos, let's run and maybe we'll reach house before it breaks "

"Breaks ? " panted the airman, clumping clum-sily light-footed little fairy " it break ? Us ? "

"Don't you ever have any storms sky ? " called Ozma over her shoulder

Atmos shook his head solemnly "We're above all that sort of thing," grunted the airman, trying his best up with Ozma "Dear me, how dreadfully disagreeable " The sky had grown dark rain was falling in torrents Blinding flashes of lightning and loud crashes of thunder added confusion and when large hail Stones came pelting down upon their heads, Atmos stopped in positive alarm

"Princess ! Princess ! " choked the airman, groping toward Ozma dark, "Get me out or I'll be punctured ! "

"If I only had my magic belt ! " gasped Ozma, pushing back her wet hair, " wish us both Emerald City Oh, dear, wish house somewhere ! "

Scarcely had the words been spoken before house sprang up little girl's feet-so suddenly, , tumbled her over backwards The morning before she left her castle, Ozma had slipped Wizard's wishing powders into her pocket

But, shoe strings and button hooks ! The little girl careful what kind of house she wanted and there, perched askew dripping rocks, stood dog house While Atmos stared at it in daze, thinking it, too, had fallen sky, and Ozma picked herself up in astonishment, cross doggie face appeared doorway

"Gr-woof ! " rumbled the dog threateningly Where he wished from not say, but the journey unexpected and rough, and seeing two total strangers standing outside, the dog immediately decided they were responsible accident Paying no attention rain or hail, he dashed furiously out and tried to bury his teeth airman's leg Thanks iron boots, Atmos was not punctured, and dog made spring at Ozma, the airman snatched the little fairy up arms and began running in way he believed possible So swiftly did Atmos run barks dog soon died away distance storm was left far behind them

"Stop ! Stop ! " begged Ozma, when finally airman hear her "Stop, Atmos dear Atmos Fere, you're running the wrong way Oh ! Oh ! Do take care, there's something queer country "

With final puff, Atmos brought himself to stop, or he tried to But the earth beneath his feet was behaving most unaccountably, moving along in big brown waves and carrying him tumbling along with it They had unluckily run great rolling country east, mentioned by few explorers, but seldom crossed by ordinary travellers Standing first on one foot and then the other, Atmos tried wildly his balance, but in moment heavy mud wave struck him behind the knees and rolled him over, he little Princess of Oz were soon being buffeted along like tiny ships on an unruly ocean waves broke, which they frequently did, sticks, stones, pebbles and dust showered over their heads , more miserable mode of travel imagined

" fly," choked the frightened airman, clutching Ozma's hand "Say the word little Princess, and I'll kick off my boots and carry you safety "

"No ! No ! Not that ! " coughed Ozma in panic "Wait Atmos, something will turn up ! "

CHAPTER 16

Reddy Giants

WHILE Carter and Betsy waited so impa-tiently outside the walls, the little Prince of Rash was having an amazing day Giants After dizzy flight air, the great pigeon, attracted by bit of stale cake ledge of high window, had dropped him carelessly sill Fortunately for Reddy, the window was open and, squirming through, he lay panting and pale, waiting bird to snap him up again But the space was too narrow, and after few angry pecks pane, the pigeon flew away

With gulp of relief, the Prince rolled over and sat up delicious smell of coffee, bacon and rolls came floating upward and, glancing over the edge sill, Reddy saw that in an enormous dining hall Far below the window stood the giant sideboard, covered with serving dishes the size of bath tubs, and seated at huge table center room, two Giants were eating porridge with spoons as large as snow shovels They had golden crowns upon their heads, and richness robes elegance whole apartment, Reddy guessed, and quite rightly, that castle of Immense City itself

Waiting upon their Majesties, were four monstrous footmen, and all Giants wore huge white wigs, the curls bounced and bobbed walked in truly comical fashion Crouching in corner sill, and trusting that Giants would notice him, the hungry little boy watched the King and Queen toss off huge basins of coffee, devour biscuits as big as boulders and pan cakes broad enough an ordinary sized table immense surroundings, Reddy felt so little, lost and lonely that all thought of finding and rescuing the Hungry Tiger seemed hopeless How was he even to reach the floor, without breaking himself to bits ? Therefore he listened listlessly booming voices Big Wigs, and fervently wished himself back Vegetable Man and Betsy Bobbin But cross remark Giant King suddenly caught his attention and made him prick up his ears

"That kitten," growled the Big Wig in fierce voice, frowning across the table Queen, "that kitten must go ! It kept me awake the entire night with its miserable meowing "

"But Elma do," murmured the Queen gently "Our daughter dotes little creature "

"Let her find something else to dote on, puffed his Majesty indignantly "My castle is no place for stray cats 's here to-morrow," continued the Giant, blowing his cheeks in and out threateningly, "I'll throw it pond ! " Snatching up his paper, the King strode room, every curl wig expressing wrath and determination

"Stray kitten ! " gasped Reddy in relief, remembering the little Giant girl's words "Why, be the Hungry Tiger ! " The knowledge that his old friend was still safe and close at hand was so encouraging, the little Prince cheered up at once, for after all Reddy was Prince and naturally brave and resourceful Hungry Tiger were still castle, certainly him, and together devise some way of escape The Queen, still arguing about her daughter's kitten, had waddled after her husband, and while the Big Wig footmen cleared away the breakfast dishes, Reddy tried of some plan to reach the floor in safety He put his hands pockets, stared nervously over the edge sill, then gave an exclamation of glee fingers had closed over the Rash rubies The rubies ! Why had he not thought before ? If had carried him safely down the furious fire-fall, why would it not help him now ?

Without disturbing the dishes side table, the footmen had gone kitchen So, closing both eyes and gritting his teeth, Reddy jumped boldly off the window ledge He landed with crash, splash and splutter and, opening his eyes, found himself looking glass sides Giant's water pitcher The water was over his head, but no discomfort, except slight chill ice, for pocket ruby protecting him from all danger by water

Disturbed because he looked more carefully before he jumped, but elated over the way the rubies were working, the little Prince rose top pitcher Luckily for him the water reached almost brim, and seizing the pitcher's edge he pulled himself up and dropped easily over the side he landed beside flat plate of sizzling hot cakes and bacon, and blame him for stopping long enough to hack off few slices of each sword This, with several crumbs giant biscuits, made an excellent breakfast, and stuffing large piece of pan cake pocket for lunch, the little boy jumped gaily off the sideboard Thanks other ruby, he floated lightly as feather down floor and then began his long walk kitchen

His clothes were still wet and dripping unexpected bath, but his spirits were high and beginning to enjoy his strange experiences and to look forward with lively anticipation meeting Hungry Tiger brisk fifteen-minute walk brought him kitchen door and, slipping through, the Big Wig servants seated at large table Their loud voices made his head thump, and to bring their faces into view he had to lean over backwards, he soon had severe pain neck But sure learn the whereabouts of little Elma and once that, finding the Hungry Tiger almost easy Compared Giants, Reddy was size of small doll and chattering Big Wigs noticed the little boy crouched behind the coal bucket After listening to great deal of conversation that interest him at all, Reddy was finally rewarded information seeking

"Where's little Elma's tray ? " wheezed Big Wig maid, suddenly pushing back her chair

"That girl grows lazier every day ! "

"There ! " grunted the cook, pointing pudgy finger toward the dresser "And it's high time you took it her, you ill-natured clod "